“The Common Lot: Take Off” novel

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

I have just completed a novel based on a Citizen Legislature selected by sortition.  It is provisionally titled “The Common Lot: Take Off”.  I have posted the first three chapters on website www.TheCommonLot.com.

This is an excision, re-write and update of a longer novel written twenty-five years ago.  The original follows six newly sortitioned legislators.  The re-write follows only two of those but mentions the other four.  This version ends in an open-ended manner that is intended to lead to sequels that would follow the other four.

I would appreciate assistance and advice in finding an agent, editor and publisher.

Thank you, David Grant

Filed under: Fiction, Sortition | Leave a comment »

Citizen Juries institutionalized in Oregon

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

From America Speaks July newsletter:

Last month, our movement saw a new victory with the institutionalization of Citizen Juries in Oregon.

On June 16, Governor Kitzhaber—with strong bipartisan support from the state House and  Senate—signed in legislation continuing the Citizens’ Initiative Review (HB 2634).  This law establishes the legal framework to provide Oregon voters with reliable, high-quality, citizen-driven information about ballot measures. When future ballot issues arise, a random sample of Oregonians—peers of the voters—will engage in pro/con deliberation and will summarize their findings in a one-page citizen statement. On the day of the election, all voters see a printed version of the citizen statement in the voter pamphlet.

Filed under: Ballot measures, Sortition | 9 Comments »

Query regarding a reading list

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

I’m wondering if anyone has a recommended reading list. In particular what are opinions about either of the following regarding relevance to the promotion or understanding of sortitional selection?

Filed under: Books, Sortition | 11 Comments »

Participatory Budgeting

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

Here’s an example that demonstrates that citizens can effectively grapple with the difficult issue of budgeting. The only piece missing, as far as true ‘government by the people’ is concerned, is that the groups convened to make these decisions should be randomly selected. Otherwise, it is only those who have the time and personal interest who ‘solve’ the community’s issues.

Government can’t solve budget battles? Let citizens do it.

To resolve the budget battles tearing apart Congress and state and local governments, politicians should look to a new model of citizen involvement: participatory budgeting.

Filed under: Participation, Sortition | 13 Comments »

7-minute presentation from Common Lot Productions

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

Using the ’20-20′ discipline as presentational format (i.e., 20 panels, each strictly 20 seconds long), “Next Step for Democracy: A Government BY the People” explains why sortition is — as Aristotle said of the first democracy — the defining hallmark of democracy … and why elections are the hallmark of oligarchy.

“Next Step for Democracy” is a plea for a government by the people, all the people.

See the video at www.TheCommonLot.com

Filed under: Sortition | 9 Comments »

PBS documentary on DVD: “Athens: The Dawn of Democracy”

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

I found this PBS documentary enlightening. From my understanding of the classical Athenian political system, this presentation overplays the role of elections and underplays the role of sortition. [Obtained through Netflix.]

Athens: The Dawn of Democracy
2007 NR 120 minutes
In this PBS program, historian Bettany Hughes explores the realities of ancient Athens’s “Golden Age” and uncovers a mix of brilliant, humanity-changing philosophies and dark, war-like themes that co-existed in one turbulent time and place. Although ancient Athens still retains its reputation as a pure and shining democracy, its history tells a more complicated story that includes slavery, black magic and an unquenchable thirst for war.

  • Cast: Bettany Hughes
  • Genres: Documentary, Historical Documentaries, PBS Documentaries, TV Documentaries
  • Format: DVD

YouTube clip.

Filed under: Athens, History | 6 Comments »

The Common Lot — twenty years from now

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Common Lot Sortitionist

Then and Now and What’s Ahead: An “Un-Common” Interview With Sortitionist David Grant in the year 2030.

A look back and a look forward from the perspective of the year 2030 when sortitional selection of a Citizen Chamber in the U.S. Congress will have been recently instituted.

Filed under: Sortition | 1 Comment »

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